A LUCKY JOCKEY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 23, 18 May 1876, Page 2

A LUCKY JOCKEY.

Only five years ago F. Arclier was a mere stable lad, apprentice to Matthew Dawson ; now he is a young gentleman of some repute in the world, and earning more than some of the Bishops. During the short time he has been a recognised jockey lie has twice headed the poll, and on a third occasion was only two behind, after having held such a good lead that it seemed to be any odds on him. Matthew Dawson's attention, according to the " Sporting Times," was first called to him by a plucky feat he did with a horse at exercise one morning, when he, without the slightest hesitation, jumped a three-year-old over a hedge and ditch and back At that time he did not weigh much more than 4st. It is this resolution and courage that has got him on as a jockey, for he is nob a brilliant horseman in the highest aecsp bance of the term. Integrity and steadiness have had much to do"with his- rapid rise. He was brought up in a stable where the lads are as carefully looked after as they are in any Sunday School ; and I have seen Archer when lie was earning his thousand a-year (he was not out of his apprenticeship at the time) amongst the lads in the evening school, presided over by the wife of the excellent trainer. We usually associate a light-weight jockey with eveiything that is impish, and, as a rule, a lad has only to be' successful for his employers to perfect fool of him. Tnanks 'to the dpiarpiine of Heath House, the " employers is a quicksand from whic'le; Archer has escaped. Archer has made 604 mounts this year, 172 of which have been winning ones. For the 604 mounts he would receive three guineas, and two guineas extra on each of the 172. The riding fees are, however, by no means the sole earnings of a jocke}\ Fordham received a retainer of £I,OOO per annum from Captain Macheil, and sums in proportion were paid for the second and third claims on his services. The riding fees are, of course, over and above the retainers, and there are also heavy travelling expenses to be considered. Ido not know what was the amount of Archer's fee for riding Activity in the Liverpool ; but I do know that, in addition to anything else that might have been paid to him, lie received in one hand <;lone a present of £SOO. —Glasgow " News :! Correspondent.